Transmutable display apparatus.



F. G. NBWELL, Je. y TRANSMUTABLE DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAILIO, 1912.

1,052,744. Patented Feb.11,1913.

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FRANK CLARENCE NEWELL, JR., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TRANSMUTABLE DISPLAY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

Application filed January 10, 1912. Serial No. 670,520.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, FRANK CLARENCE NEwnLL, Jr., a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Transmutable Display Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the Same. l

This invention relates to improvements in transmutable display apparatus, and it may be said to consist in the novel features and in the novel and improved construction, arrangement and combination of the parts and devices as will be apparent from the description and claims which follow.

Objects of t-he invention are to provide novel and improved apparatus for forming and displaying letters, numerals, characters, symbols, designs and the like, which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, install and maintain, easy to manipulate, durable and effective in use, and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and the advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description of diverse forms of construction of apparatus embodying the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a partial view of apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the convex display members; Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view, in elevation, of the apparatus and locking plate; Fig. 4 is a view of one of the plane display members; Fig. 5 is a partial view of the locking plate; Fig. 6 is a partial view of a setting device; Fig. 7 is a partial view of vanother form of setting device; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail of the setting device shown in Fig. 6, and Figs. 9 and 10 are views in perspective of modified forms of the apparatus.

The frame 2, Figs. l and 10, may consist of a preferably rectangular plate of sheet metal or other suitable material and it, may be stamped out or otherwise formed to provide a plurality of substantially parallel rows of slots 3 preferably arranged end to end and close together in each row. The

opposite faces of the frame 2 may be either similarly or dissimilarly colored or otherwise rendered either similar or dissimilar in appearance if desired. In each of the slots 3 may be arranged a member 4 adapted to extend between adjacent of the rows of slots and adjustable by moving through the slots to occupy a position on either one of the faces of the frame 2. The members 4 may consist of sheet metal or other suitable material and they may be stamped out or otherwise formed to provide near each end thereof the opening 5 and the side extensions 6. The members 4 may be formed convex, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, or they may be formed fiat as seen in Figs. 4 and 10. One or bot-h of the faces of the members 4 may be colored differently than the faces of the frame 2 or they may be otherwise caused to have a different appearance from that of the frame 2 so as to effect a strong contrast in the aspect of the members and the frame.

The members 4 mayeach be mounted on the frame 2 by bending the side extensions 6 on one end t-hereof over against the member whereupon that end of the member may be passed through one of the slots 3 and the extensions may then be bent back to normal position. It will be understood that the side extensions 6 extend beyond the ends of the slots and are adapted to contact with the frame 2 to limit the movement of members in the slots and keep them in position on the frame.

From the foregoing it will be seen that desired letters, numerals, characters, symbols, designs or the like may be formed and displayed by the apparatus by moving the members through the slots to have certain of the members disposed in view on one of t-he faces. By the use of the convex members a raised effect is produced for the letters, etc. i

Figs. 6 and 8 illustrate a setting device 7 whereby certain of the members 4 may be moved in common from a position on one of the faces of the frame 2 to occupy a position on the other of the faces of the frame 2 and thereby display the desired letter, numeral, character, symbol, design or the like. In Fig. 6 a portion of the setting device for forming the letter F is shown and it may consist of sheet metal or other suitable material stamped out or otherwise Fig. 7 is used, the members 1 are first` moved to occupy a position on one of the faces of the frame 2and the device 8 may` then be held against such o-f the members as are suited to display the letter F whereupon the frame 2 may be tilted sufficiently to move the other members to the other face of the frame 2, as will be understood. Setting devices for the various letters, etc.,

may be formed and are preferably indexed to facilitate their use and operation of the apparatus. 4

In Fig. 5 is illustrated a device 1) for locking members 4 in position on the frame 2. It may consist of a plate 11 of sheet metal or other suitable material stamped out or otherwise formed with rectangular openings or interstices 12 to accommodate the members l and with bars 13 adapted to engage with the side extensions 6 when the device is moved and suitably held adjacent to the frame 2.

In the construction for the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 9 the frame 14 is similar to the frame 2 .with the exception that it is formed to provide the portions 15 having lugs 16 on the sides thereof which portions are pressed away from the slots 17 extending along the top and sides thereof. The members 18 are substantially similar to the member shown in Fig. 2 with the exception that the side extensions 6 at the top thereof may be dispensed with and side extensions 19, on the central portion of the members, may be bent inwardly of the members to have the lugs 16 fitted in openings at the inner end of said side extensions so that the members may be turned at will to be on display on either of the faces of the frame 111.

lNhile various forms of construction embodying the invention have been illustrated and described, many changes and modifica-v tions thereof will readily occur to those skilled in the art, wherefore the right is reserved to all such changes and modifications as do not dep-artI from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1, In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a plate provided with a plurality of slots therein and members arranged on said plate and adapted to extend substantially between adjacent o-f the slots, said members of a different appearance than that of the plate and adapted to move through saidA slots to occupy a position on either of the opposite faces of the plate.

2. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a frame provided with a plurality of slots therein, members arranged on said frame and adapted to move through said slots to occupy a position on either of the opposite faces of t-he frame, and means for locking said members in adjusted position on the frame.

3. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a plate provided with a plurality of spaced rows -of slots therein, members arranged on said plate and adapted to extend substantially between adjacent of the rows of slots, said members adapted to move through said slots to occupy a position on either of the opposite faces of the plate, and means for moving certain of the members in common through said slots.

4L. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a plate provided with a plurality of slots therein, members arranged on said plate and adapted to move through said slots to occupy a position on either of the opposite faces ofthe plate, means for moving certain of the members in common through said slots, and means for locking the members in adjusted position on the plate.

5. In apparatus of the class specified, the combination of a plate provided with a plurality of spaced substantially parallel rows of slots arranged end to end and close together in each row, and members arranged on said plate, said members adapted to extend substantially between adjacent of the rows of slots and having side extensions near the end thereof and adapted to move through the slots to be displayed on either of the opposite facesof said plate.

In testimony whereof7 I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses at Los Angeles.

county of Los Angeles, State of California, this 28th day of November A. D. 1911.

FRANK CLARENCE NEWELL, JR. Witnesses:

ANNA B. DESSAU, ALEX. I-I. LIDDERS.

VCopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

